La flèche noire

In the misty valleys of 15th‑century England, the quiet hamlet of Tunstall awakens to an unexpected toll of the Moat‑House bell. Farmers, women, and a few wandering travelers pause their chores, drawn to the strange summons that ripples through fields and forest alike. The village, a cluster of oak‑timbered homes hugging a river and a stone bridge, feels the weight of a kingdom on the brink of conflict.

Into this uneasy scene rides Richard Shelton, a young archer of barely eighteen, his dark‑velvet collar and steel‑bow marking him as the pupil of the influential Sir Daniel Brackley. He carries a hurried message: every able man must rally at Kettley for an imminent battle, though the cause remains vague. As villagers debate loyalty, poverty, and the whims of shifting lords, the tension between duty and survival sharpens, promising a tale of honor, intrigue, and the harsh realities of war‑torn England.